CM, local leaders’ intervention sought
The State Government’s move to shift the National Highway Division, Rourkela office has sparked strong resentment among the public.A few organisations of the city have drawn the attention of political leaders, including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, requesting them to stop the bid.
Sources said the NH Division of Rourkela, which was established in1980 here, has been looking after the construction and maintenance of various highways in Sundargarh district.
Since not many new highways were under construction, the job of the division mainly was restricted to maintenance of the existing roads during the last few years.
The area of work of the division has shrunk. As such, there is a move to disband it and merge it with any other division of the State, said Executive Engineer (NH) PK Pradhan here.
The decision of the State Government, however, has sparked resentment here. Steel City Contractors’ Association (SCCA), Rourkela unit, has protested the move outright. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the SCCA requested his intervention and urged him to let the division continue.
“Besides the maintenance of the existing highways in the district, the future of the proposed highway projects of the district like Bisra – Jareikela road and Bonei – Kalunga (main district road 26) will be uncertain after closure of the NH division office from here,” said SCCA secretary Narotam Sam.
The SCCA has also drawn attention of Sundargarh MP and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and requested his intervention. “We have taken up the issue and updated the development to Oram and Rourkela MlA Dilip Ray concerning the issue and the duo has assured to takeappropriate steps,” said BJP Rourkela president Dhiren Senapati.
“As, Sambalpur – Rourkela State highway four laning work has already got the nod, the NH Rourkela division may be entrusted to construct the same and in that case, let the division continue here,” he added.